Marble shooter



I March 31, 1942. R. EC KENBOY 5 MARBLE SHOOTER Filed Sept. 16, 1958-Pussn L Ec/mvao r INVENTOR A ORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,277,964 MARBLEsnoorsa Russell Eckenboy, Hammond, Ind.

Application September 16, 1938, Serial No. 230,220

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved marble shooter and has for one ofits principal objects, the provision of means for economically producinga rugged and efiicient device of the kind referred to.

Another and still further important object of advantage is the provisionof means for retaining a marble in the loaded position regardless of theangle at which the device is positioned.

A still further object of advantage and importance resides in theprovision of means for accommodating marbles of various sizes.

Still another object of importance and advantage resides in theprovision of means for holding and shooting a marble of substantiallyany diameter along a portion of the longitudinal center line of thedevice.

An additional object of importance is the provision of meansformaintaining a marble at a pre-determined location within the device.

Still another object of advantage and importance resides in theprovision of means for manually releasing the spring actuated plungerfor ejecting a marble or other object from the improved marble shooterand along a surface upon which the shooter is positioned.

Additional objects of importance and advantage will become apparent asthe following detailed description progresses, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a marble shooter which embodies theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the structure.

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the base plate.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the upper portion of the improved marbleshooter.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section of the device taken on line l'l ofFig. 2.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally the improved marble shooterof this invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is constructedof a relatively fiat rectangular base I2 and a substantiallychannelshaped upper portion [4.

The edges along each side of the base I2 are preferably turned uponthemselves as is indicated by the reference numeral 16 and as best shownin Figs. 3 and 4.

Formed closely adjacent each edge of the base I2 is a plurality oftongue receiving slots I8. The slots 18 may vary in size, shape andlocation so long as they are suitable for attaching the channel-shapedportion of the device to the base. However, in the preferred embodimentof the improved marble shooter of this invention the slots it are formedparallel to the edges of the base l2.

Projecting upwardly on the longitudinal center line of the base,intermediate the center and the front end thereof, is a lug 20. The lug20, in conjunction with a similar lug 22 projecting downwardly from theupper portion of the structure, provides a stop to prevent marbles fromtraveling backwardly with the plunger.

Formed in the base, intermediate the lug 20 and the front end thereofare two upwardly projecting flanges 2|, one on each side of thelongitudinal center line of the base, which provide a trough formaintaining a marble in the center of the base and also serve to directthe course of the marble upon its ejection from the device. The upwardlyprojecting flanges 2| are preferably formed of portions of the base l2.

Formed in each side of the channel-shaped top portion M, is a slot 24.The slot 24 in addition to providing a guide for the plunger also limitsthe extent of its travel. The front end of the slots 24 function as astop for arresting the forward movement of the plunger.

Formed of the edges of the channel-shaped member I4 are a plurality oftongues 26, which are spaced to co-act with the tongue receiving slotsl8 in securing the channel-shaped member M to the base l2.

The channel-shaped member I4 is preferably formed with rounded ends andthe top portion of the rear end of the channel is curled upon therounded end of the sides and is preferably secured to the base by meansof an additional tongue 28. This additional securing means givesrigidity to the construction.

Formed in the downwardly turned rear end of the channel member I4 is acentrally located aperture 30.

Projecting through the aperture 30 and extending for a considerabledistance forwardly and rearwardly thereof is a rod 32. The rear end ofthe rod 32 is provided with a handle 34 which may be of any desiredconstruction.

Rigidly secured to the forward end of the rod 32 is a plunger 36. Theplunger 36 is preferably, wholly or in part, constructed of a materialwhich will not break or injure marbles upon coming in forceful impacttherewith.

Projecting outwardly from each end of the plunger 36 is a stud 38. Thestuds 38 are slidably positioned in the slots 24. The cooperation of thestuds 38 and the slots 24 provide a guide for the plunger 36 from oneend of its travel to the other.

Positioned on the rod 32 between the inner surface of the downwardlyturned end and the plunger 36 is a helical spring 40. The spring whenexpanded maintains the studs 38 against the forward end of the slots 24.

Pivotally secured to one side of the channelshaped member closelyadjacent the rear end of a slot 24, is a trigger lever 42. The forwardend of the trigger lever 42 is provided with a hook portion 44 and adownwardly and forwardly projecting finger 46. The finger 46 provides ameans for forcing the hook 44' downwardly over one of the studs 38 whenthe plunger is pulled rearwardly to the cooking position. The plungerassembly is released by pressing the rear end of the trigger lever 42downwardly.

Positioned closely adjacent the front of the channel member I4 is aretaining spring 48. In the preferred embodiment of the improved deviceof this invention, the retaining spring is formed of two downwardly andslightly inwardly projecting spring wires. The ends of the wire areadapted to open outwardly to allow a marble to pass to the rear thereof.When the marble is ejected from the device, the wires forming theretaining spring 48 are adapted to spread outwardly and also to moveforwardly. It will be apparent that other suitable retaining springs maybe employed in the device.

The operation of the improved marble shooter of this invention isextremely simple. A marble is placed in the forward end of the deviceafter the plunger is moved to the rear. This movement allows the marbleto pass to the rear of the retaining spring 48 and come in contact withthe lugs 2E3. The device is then laid upon or aimed at the target. Theoperator may then depress the trigger lever 42 to eject the marble atwill.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a ruggedand eificient device which may be economically constructed and marketed.

Moreover, because of its simplicity of operation and its adaptability tovarious size marbles or pellets, its use will be universal.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art wall of said body.

to which the device appertains, that numerous changes and alterations inconstruction and design may be made all without departing from thespirit or scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is understood thatthe patent granted hereon is not to be limited to the preferredembodiment here disclosed nor in any other manner except by theterminology of the appended claims when given the range of equivalentsto which they may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

1. A marble shooter comprising a hollow member having a relatively flatbottom, a pair of angular missile guides in spaced parallel relationrigidly secured to the upper surface of said fiat bottom guide slots onopposed sides of said member, a spring actuated plunger operablypositioned within said member, manual means for compressing the springof said spring actuated plunger, and trigger means at the side of saidmember for releasing said spring.

2. A marble shooter comprising a barrel member, the bottom of saidbarrel member being relatively flat from front to rear, guide slots onopposed sides of said member, a pair of angular missile guides formed ofupwardly turned portions of the bottom of said barrel members, saidguides being located one on each side and paralleling a portion of thelongitudinal center of said part, a spring actuated plunger operablypositioned within said member, portions of said plunger projectingthrough said slots, manual means for compressing the spring of saidspring actuated plunger, and trigger means for releasing said spring.

3. A marble shooter comprising a body adapted to be positioned upon afiat surface, means within said body for forcibly ejecting a marbletherefrom and along said flat surface, and guide means withinthe bodyfor directing the lateral course of a marble as it is expelled from saidbody, said guide means comprising an angular disposed flange on eachside of a portion of the longitudinal center line of the bottom of thebody, each angular disposed flange being located substantially midwaybetween said center line and a side RUSSELL ECKENBOY.

